Kelsey Lydon EDC 102H High School Experience September 23, 2011
My high school years significantly assisted me in deciding what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, all of the negativity that surrounded me in middle school (violence, drugs, etc.) only multiplied tenfold at Stoughton High School. For example, there was a huge fear my freshman year that the Bloods were making plans to infiltrate our school. But this controversy only increased my drive to be an exemplary student. I wanted to lead my peers by example and see other succeed. I participated in several after school activities and kept up with my studies. By the end of my high school years, I had accumulated a 3.9011 GPA and was in the top ten percent of my class. Without all of the negativity that surrounded, I would not have had the drive to be successful and avoid becoming a statistic.
One thing that helped me focus on the positive in school was English class. I always loved reading and writing, and, luckily, I was blessed with fabulous English teachers. My tenth grade teacher, Mr. John Denison, impacted me the most. He was a fairly quiet guy, but whenever he opened his mouth, something sarcastic and witty always came out. For example, he would refer to us as his "Wise Fools", which was the root of the word "Sophomore". He picked on students (in a friendly way) and always had the class laughing. He found a way to make the novels we were reading in class applicable to our own lives, which kept the material interesting (even with the most boring of stories). His class was one of the very few in which I constantly found myself raising my hand to give my input. My passion was obviously English, but for the longest time I had convinced myself that I would go into the medical field. It had been drilled into my brain that a career as a doctor was the most stable option for me. But, whenever I would mention this to Mr. Denison, he would give me the same reaction: a scoff, an eye roll, and an, “Alright, we’ll see.” And he was right. Part of my double major is now English. He had a skillful way of being able to assess our strengths and passions, which made him an incredible teacher. He truly helped me realize my passion in life and pointed me in the right direction.
Community service was also one of the things I truly loved about my high school career. During my sophomore year, I became involved with Peer Leadership, a student-run organization meant to better our ailing community. We coordinated several major events, including a bullying education program and two blood drives per year. Usually, I would spend several periods on blood drive day managing registration and holding the hands of donors. The palpability of assisting others was thrilling. I realized while participating in several programs we coordinated that I wanted to spend my career giving back to others. During my senior year, it donned on me that I should become a teacher. Between my passion for English and my urge to help others, I could impact students the way Mr. Denison had impacted me. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of our youths. These years helped me realize my true calling.
High school was truly a pivotal point in my life. Through my experiences in high school, I was able to discover what I really loved and begin to pave the path I wanted to go down in life. Now, in college, I am able to pursue the ambitions I amassed in high school and turn them into realities. Someday, I truly hope to be that high school teacher who helps students realize their dreams.
EDC 102H
High School Experience
September 23, 2011
My high school years significantly assisted me in deciding what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, all of the negativity that surrounded me in middle school (violence, drugs, etc.) only multiplied tenfold at Stoughton High School. For example, there was a huge fear my freshman year that the Bloods were making plans to infiltrate our school. But this controversy only increased my drive to be an exemplary student. I wanted to lead my peers by example and see other succeed. I participated in several after school activities and kept up with my studies. By the end of my high school years, I had accumulated a 3.9011 GPA and was in the top ten percent of my class. Without all of the negativity that surrounded, I would not have had the drive to be successful and avoid becoming a statistic.
One thing that helped me focus on the positive in school was English class. I always loved reading and writing, and, luckily, I was blessed with fabulous English teachers. My tenth grade teacher, Mr. John Denison, impacted me the most. He was a fairly quiet guy, but whenever he opened his mouth, something sarcastic and witty always came out. For example, he would refer to us as his "Wise Fools", which was the root of the word "Sophomore". He picked on students (in a friendly way) and always had the class laughing. He found a way to make the novels we were reading in class applicable to our own lives, which kept the material interesting (even with the most boring of stories). His class was one of the very few in which I constantly found myself raising my hand to give my input. My passion was obviously English, but for the longest time I had convinced myself that I would go into the medical field. It had been drilled into my brain that a career as a doctor was the most stable option for me. But, whenever I would mention this to Mr. Denison, he would give me the same reaction: a scoff, an eye roll, and an, “Alright, we’ll see.” And he was right. Part of my double major is now English. He had a skillful way of being able to assess our strengths and passions, which made him an incredible teacher. He truly helped me realize my passion in life and pointed me in the right direction.
Community service was also one of the things I truly loved about my high school career. During my sophomore year, I became involved with Peer Leadership, a student-run organization meant to better our ailing community. We coordinated several major events, including a bullying education program and two blood drives per year. Usually, I would spend several periods on blood drive day managing registration and holding the hands of donors. The palpability of assisting others was thrilling. I realized while participating in several programs we coordinated that I wanted to spend my career giving back to others. During my senior year, it donned on me that I should become a teacher. Between my passion for English and my urge to help others, I could impact students the way Mr. Denison had impacted me. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of our youths. These years helped me realize my true calling.
High school was truly a pivotal point in my life. Through my experiences in high school, I was able to discover what I really loved and begin to pave the path I wanted to go down in life. Now, in college, I am able to pursue the ambitions I amassed in high school and turn them into realities. Someday, I truly hope to be that high school teacher who helps students realize their dreams.